Blow-out preventer



Oct. 24, 1939. L. F. BAAsH BL-ow-ouT PREVENTER Filed July 5, 1935 Oct. 24, 1939. F, BAASH 2,177,164

'Filed July 5, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 LAWRENCE f Bans/1 Patented oct. 24, 1939' UNITED sTATEs.

PATENT oFFicE 2,177,164 BLow-oU'r PnEvEN'rEn. Lawrence F. Bauli, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July s, 1935, serial No, sanar zz claims. A(ci. 16s-15) 'I'his invention relates to a device for use on the upper end of a well and relates more particularly to a blowout preventer to be applied to a well casing and operable to control or close off the well when high pressures develop during drilling, etc. A general object of this invention is to provide a practical effective and very dependable blowout preventer. l v

Another object of this invention is to provide a l0 blowout preventer involving a member operable or contractible by uid pressure to seal oil about 'a drill pipe, drill stem or other object extending into the well and thus seal oi the vwell and novel 'means for dependably supporting the member and conning it against the well pressures when in the sealing position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blowout preventer of the character mentioned that includes gate sectionsv operable to positions extending across the body opening and engaging about the drill pipe abovegand below the contractible member so that they effectively support and confine the member against vertical or axial expansion and thus insure the dependable, proper and eiective sealing action of the sealing member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blowout preventer of the character mentioned in which the sealing member may be subjected to high internal actuating fluid pressures to expand -it against the body wall and eonning gate sec,-

tions and to contract it onto the drillpipe or other object extending into the well to form a tight seal without danger of lbursting or destroyblowout preventer that may be easily and quickly operated to fully and tightly close off the well whenhigh pressures suddenly develop in the well. Another object of the invention is to provide a blowout preventer of the charadter mentioned that normally leaves the opening ofthe well casing entirely unobstructed and does not interfere with the free passage through or operation of l' tools in the casing. v v

A- further object of thel invention is to provide a blowout preventer of the character mentioned that is small and' compact to occupy a minimum yamount of space atthe derrick or the upper end 55 of the well.

run'actuatefd state. Fig. 2 is a transverse detailed sectional view taken substantially as' indicated by line 2 2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal detailed sectional view of another form of the invention illustrating the gate sections in their closed positions. Fig. 4 is a vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3 showing the gate sections N and the contractible member in their actuated positions. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the upper closure members engaging about a pipe and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the lower closure members engaging about g5 the pipe.

The device or blowout preventer provided by this invention and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings includes, generally a body I0 to be applied toor interposed in a well casing and hav- 30 ing an opening II forming'a continuation of the opening in the casing C, a sealing member I2 in the body I0 adapted to be contracted or actuated to seal about an object P extending through the I opening I l, and pairs of gate sections I3 and I 4 35 operable to positions across the body opening II above and below the sealing member I2 to support and confine the same.

The body I0 may be varied somewhat in shape 'and construction without' departing from' the 40 that its opening II forms a continuation or part of the opening in the casing. The lower portion I5 of the opening II may bethreaded to receive the threaded upper portion of the casing C and the upper portion I6 of the opening Il may be .similarly threaded to receive .the threaded lower portion of 'an upper section C1 of casing. 'I'he opening II is preferably at least as large in diameter as theopening in the well casing. In

accordance with the invention an annular groove or recess I1 is provided inthe wall of the body opening II to carry or receive the sealing mem'ber -'I2. The upper and lower walls of the recess I1 maybe flat and horizontal and the outer wallof `the recess may be vertical, it being understood that the recess I1 may have rounded or concaved 'walls if desired. One or more pipes 9 communicate with ports 8 in the lower portion of the body 'joining the opening II above the upper end of the casing C.

The body I0 is provided with a transverse opening or slot I8 above the recess I1 and a similar transverse opening or slot I9 below the recess I1. The slots I8 land I9 are transversely elongated and are substantially rectangular in cross sectionl having fiat parallel upper and lower walls. The upper slot I8 is preferably immediately above the recess I1 having its lower wall in the same transverse plane as the upper wall of the recess. The lower opening or slot I9 is preferably immediately below the recess I1 and may have its: upper wall in the same transverse plane as the lower Wall of the recess. In the preferred construction Othe` longitudinal or major axis of the `slot I8 is substantially at right angles to the major axis of theslot I9. The horizontal or transverse width of the slots I8 and I 8 is preferably greater than the diameter of the body opening II as clearly illustrated in the drawings. Caps 28 close the outer 'ends of the slots I8 and I9.l The caps 20 are attached to the body I 0 vby screws or bolts 2|. 'Means' is provided for sealing between the caps 20 and 'the body-I0. Ribs 22 on the inner sides of the caps 20 t grooves 23 in the body I8 to engage packing 24 in the grooves and form effectivev seals between the caps and body.

The sealing member I2 normally occupies the recess I1 where it `does not obstruct the body opening II and is contractible by uid pressure or expansible inwardly by iluid pressure to seal .about -the pipe vP or other object extending through'the opening to "tightly close or seal oi.

the annular space oropening between the pipe P or object andthe wall ofthe body I0. Where I employ the terms contract or contractible in describing the sealing member yI2 and its action I mean the capability of or the action oi the member I2 in expanding inwrdlyunder the .influence of internal ilu'id pressure to seal about the pipe P or other' object extending into-the well,

it being understood that the sealing member I2 may also expand outwardly and axially under the 'influence of internal fluid pressureV to seal with the wall of the recess I1 and the closure or gate sections I3 and I4.

'I'he sealing member I2 is annular and tubular being in the form of a receptacle for receiving iluid under pressure. The member I2 is tubular or annularin cross section, havingr a continuous so that it does not obstruct the opening and is not injured by tools operated through-the device.

Where the recess I'Iis iiat walled as describedl above, the sealing member I2 may be substantially rectangular in cross section.

Means is provided for passing or introducing uid under pressure into the opening 25 of the sealing member I2 to contract the member into the pipe P or other object extending through the opening II and to expand it into tight sealing cooperation with the wall of the recess I1 and the closure or gate sections I3 and I4. A tube 26 extends through an opening in the wall of the body 'I8 and projects through an opening in the wall of the sealing member I2 to have communication\with the opening 25. A pipe 2T is provided to carry fluid under pressure to the tube 28 forthe purpose of actuating the sealing member I2. The `ow or passage of iluid under pressure into and through the pipe 21 and may be controlled by a suitable valve (not shown).

The pairs of gate sections I3 and Il are operable to positions where they extend across the body opening II to form closure like supportsabove and below the recess I1 and deiine a chamber or space into which the sealing member I2 'may be expanded to contract about and seal with the pipe P and to seal' with the wall of the recess I1 and the gate sections and thus tightly close off the opening II against the outflow of fluid from the well. The gate sections I3, which are the uppervclosure parts, are shiftable inthe body slot I8 from positions at opposite sides of the opening II to positions such as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings wherev they extend into the opening II to engage about the pipe P or other object extending through the casing. In

provided with notches 28 which receive the object or pipe Pvwhen the Asections are in'their closed or actuated positions. 4'I'he notches 29 may re-v ceive the 1pipe P with suitable clearance.

The outer ends 30 of the sections I3 may be substantially cylindrically curved.

The gate sections I3 normally occupy positions' where they are entirely clear of the opening II. The caps 20 closingthe ends of the slot I8 may be provided with openings 3l which form continuations of the'slotfI8 to receive the outer end portions of. the-sections I3 when the sections are in their" normal retracted positions. Stop pins 32 extend through openings in the Wall of the body I0 to project into the slotA I8 to limit the inward travel of the sections I3. rNotches 33 may be provided in the inner corner's oi' the sections I3 to receive the stop pins 32 whereby the inner edges or ends of the sections may come into contact when vthe sections are in their closed positions.v

The stop pins `32 may be welded to the body loasatu.

The closure sections or gate sections Il arearranged in the lower body slot I9 for movement between positions -clear of the Vbody opening II and positions where they extend across the open-l ings- II to engage about the pipe P or other object'extendingthroughthe opening. The gate sections I4 maybe similar to oridentical with the sections I3 .being nat plate-like members having at upper and lower surfaces for bearing on the upper and lower-walls of thelslot I8 and-havl ing straight parallel opposite longitudinal sides.

The outer ends of the sections- I4 may be curved in the same manner as the ends 30 of the sec tions I3 and the outer portions of the sections I4 are received in openings in the caps 20 when .the sections are in their out or retracted positions. The inner ends of the gate sections I4 are adapted to contact or engage when the sections are intheir closed positions and notches 36 are provided infthe inner ends of the sections I4 to receive the pipe P or other object extending into the well.v Stops 31 similar to the stop pins 32 project'into the slot I9 to limit the inward travel oi the gate sections I4'.

Means are provided vfor operating or shifting the pairs of gate sections i3 and I4 between their` open and closed positions. In the simple, preferred embodiment of'the invention illustrated, a separateor lindividual -manually operable screw means is provided for shifting each of the sections I 3 and I4. The operating means each in--l` clude a stem 38 extending through an opening in the outer end of a cap 2,0. The caps 20 have bosses 39 provided with sockets 40 which carry packing 4I for sealing about the stems 3B. Studs 42 project from the outer endsof the bosses 39 and nuts 43S on the 'studs urge glands 44 inwardly against the packing 4I. Stop members 45 are held on reduced outer portions of the studs 42 b v nuts 46. Hand wheels 41, or their equivalents, are yfixed on the outer end portions of the oper ating stems 38 to facilitate the operation or turning of the stems. The hubs of. the wheels 41 are adapted to cooperate with the stop members 45 to hold the. stems 38 against inward movement. Enlargements orv collars 48 on the stems 38 are adapted to cooperate with bushings or bearings 49 recessed in the inner sides of the caps 20 to'pre.

' vent outward movement of the stems 38. 'I'he inner portions of the stems 38 are provided with threads 50 which cooperate with threads in radial lopenings 5I in the^gate sections I3 and I4.. Upon rotation of the hand wheels 41 the cooperation of the' threads 58 with-the threads on the walls of the openings 5I causes the gate sections I3 and I4 to be moved or shifted. l

Itis believed that the operation of the blowout preventer of the present invention will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description. When the parts-are in their normal positions, priorto actuation, the opening II is entirely unobstructed allowing the free operation of tools through 'the casing C. The sealing member I2is normally received in the recess I1 where it does not project into the opening I I and is not subject to engagement by tools lor objects voperated through the casing C. The closure sec- .receive a drill stem, the pipe P or other object that may be extending through the blowout preventer.

Eollowingthe actuation of the gatev sections I3 and I4 to their closed positions iiuid under pressure is admitted to the opening 25 of the s ealing member- I2 through the pipe 21 and 'tube 26. Fluid vunder pressure admitted to the opening 25 of the sealing member I2 expands the sealing denly develop lin the well.

member inwardly or contracts it about the pipe P or other object extending through the opening II. This expansion of the sealing member I2 by the internal fluid pressure is accompanied by outward expansion and axial expansion of the member. The pairs of gate sections I3 Vand I4 Whenin their actuated positions constitute closures extending across the opening II at points spaced longitudinally thereof to effectively support the sealing member I2 against vertical pressures and .to conne or limit the axial expansion of the member I2. Due to the presence of the closed or actuated gate sections I3 and I4 the sealing member I2 may be subjected to high internal 'uid pressures to fully occupy the space defined by the pair of sections I3 and I4, the pipe P and the wall of the recess I1 to effectively and tightly seal off theopening II against the discharge of fluid from the well. The member I2 is being conned in the space just referred to is adapted to have sealing engagement with the adjacent surface throughout substantially its entire external surface so that it is not liable to rupture or burst. The fluid under' pressure in the opening 25 forces the sealing member I2 into tight sealing engagement with the pipe P orother object extending through the casing C as well as maintaining it in effective sealing engagementl with the sections I3 and I4 and the walls of the recess l1.

The gate sections I3 and I4 constitute rigid abutments or supports and dependably support Athe expanded sealing member I2 against fluid pressures from the well. The fluid pressure from the well may be discharged from the pipes or pipe 9 if ,desired under the control of a valve or valves. Mud or other liquid may be introduced into the casing C through the pipes or pipe 9 Ato kill the pressure in the well. The blowout preventer of the present invention may be easily and quickly operated to seal off the upper portion of the well casing when high pressures sud- The blowout preventer is simple and inexpensive of manufacture and is in the form of a small compact unit.

Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings illustrate a form of the invention in which the pairs of closures or gate sections I3a and I 4a operate to vautomatically center the object or pipe P in the body opening II when'they are moved to their in or closed positions. With the exception of the gate sections I 3a and I 4a the various ele- Arnentsandvparts'of the device shown in Figs. 3

to A6 may be the same as the corresponding elements and parts of the device illustrated in Figs. A1 and 2 and the corresponding reference numerals will be emplcyed.`

The upper gate sect-ions I3a of the blowout preventer shown in Figs. 3. to 6, inclusive, are shiftable in the body recess I8 and are provided at their inner ends with, Substantially V-shaped notches 10. The walls of the notches 10 diverge vinwardly so that their engagement with the pipe P may center or assist in centering the pipe in the body opening, in the event that the pipe is off center, when the blowout preventer Vis actuated. The inner ends or bottoms of th`ewhen the sections are in their inner or active positions. 'Ihe inner portions of the gate sections I ila are reduced in thickness and are shouldered as at 12 to lap one over the other as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings when engaging about the pine P.

The lower gate sections I4'L which operate in the body recesses I9 have V-shaped notches 13 in their inner ends similar to the notches 10. The walls of the notches 13 diverge to the longitudinal edges of the sections and their engagement with the pipe P may center or assist in centering the pipe in the body opening II. 'I'he bottoms or inner ends 1 4 of the notches 13 may be rounded or substantially cylindrically concaved to conform to the smaller sizes of pipe, etc. The inner portions of the gate sections I4 are preferably reduced in thickness and are shouldered in the saine manner as the inner portions of the gate sections I3a so as `to overlap when the sections I4* are ln theiractuated positions.

The operation of the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings is substantially the same las that of the blowout preventer 4illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. When press'ures develop in the well fthe gate sections I3* and Il* may be operated to their in or actuated positions by means of the hand wheels 41. The walls of the notches 10 and 13 engage the pipe P to center the same in the body opening I I as the gate sections move to their inner positions.

Fluid under pressure is then admitted to the interior of the sealing member I2 .to cause the member to contract onto the pipe vP and tightly seal with the pipe and the walls ofthe recess Il'. The gate sections vI3 and I4* confine the sealing member I2 and cause it to effectively seal with the 4pipe and the body walls. The pipe P being lcentered by the walls of the notches 'Ill and '13 is more effectively sealed about by the contractible sealing member I2 and is more readily engaged by tools, etc. thatnnay be employed to engage the pipe above the blowout preventer.

i Having described only typical preferred forms vand applications of my invention Iv do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specinc details? herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall'within the scope of the following claims i,

Having described my inventionjl claim: j

l. j.A device for use on a well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing and i having an opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, closures operable to positions where they extend across the opening in planes spaced longitudinally thereof, and a seal'- ing member in the body operable to occupy the space defined by said closures and the wall of the opening. l 2. A device for use on a well casingincluding a body adapted to be connected with the casing and 1 having an opening forming' a continuation of the opening in the casing, closures operable to-positions4 where they extend across the openingini planes spaced longitudinally thereof, the vclosures being shaped to extend about an objectextending' through the opening, and a sealingmember in the. body operable to occupy the lspace defined by said closures, the wall of the' opening and the object to seal of! the opening- 3. A device'for use ona well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing and havingan'opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, closures operable to positions where they extend acrossthe .opening in planes spaced longitudinally thereof, an expansible4 sealing member in the body between the closures, and means for expanding the sealing member to fill the space defined by saidclosures' and the wall of the opening to seal oil? the opening.

4.- A device for use on a well casing including a .body adapted to be connected with the casing and having an opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, closures operable to positions where they extend across the opening in planes spacedlongitudinally thereof, an annular tubular member in' the body between the closures expansibleby internal pressure, 'and'means for admitting fluid under pressure to the interior of the -member to expand the member to fili the space defined by the said closures and the wall of the body. l 5. A device for use on a well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing and having anopening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, closure means carried byv the body and operable to extend across the openingand receive an object extending through the opening, an expansible sealing member in the body adapted toseal against the closure means and the body and seal about the object. andfiuid pressure meansl for expanding the sealing member.

- 6. A device for use on a well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing and having an opening forming a continuation of the having an opening forming la continuation of the opening in the casing, closures operable to positions where they extend across the opening in planes spaced longitudinally thereof, the closures being shaped to receive an object extending through the opening, a hollow expansible member in the body between the closures, means for operating the closures to said positions, and means vfor passing fluid under pressure into the member to. expand it into sealing contact with the body and closures and contract it about said object.

.8. A device for use on a well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing and having an opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, sets of gate sections ing at longitudinally spaced points to receive an object extending through the opening, a hollow expansible sealing member in the body expansible i to contract about said object and sealagainst the opposing surfaces of theA sets of gate sections and thev adjacent body surfaces, means for operating the gate sections, and means for passing fluid under pressure-into the sealing member to expand thesame.

9. A device for use on a weil casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing and having an opening forming a continuation of the opening in, the casing, sets of gate'sections operableinto positions extending across the opening at longitudinally spaced points to engage about 75 low expansible sealing member in the body exclear of the opening, mean for operating the gate sections, and means for passing fluid under pressure into the sealing member to expand the same. 10. A device f or use on a well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing Aand having an opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, an expansible sealing member normally lying against the wall of the body and expansible inwardly to seal about an object extending through the opening, and gate sections operable to positions above and below the sealing member to support and confine the member. l

11. A device for use on a well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing and having an opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, ahollow expansible member arrangedin the body to normally leave the opening unobstructed, and expansible inwardly to seal about an object extending through the opening, means for admitting uid pressure into the member to expand it, and gate sections operable to positions Where they extend across the opening to support the expanded member.

12. A device for use on a well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the'casing and having an` opening forming a continuation of the opening in the` casing, a hollow expansible member arranged in the body to normally leave the opening unobstructed,- and expansible in-\ wardly to seal about an object extending through the opening means for admitting fluid pressure into ,the member to expand it, gate sections carried by the body and operable to positions where they extend across the opening to support the said member, and screw means for operating' the gate sections.

13. A device for use on a well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing and having an opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, a recess in the wall of the opening and transverse slots intersecting the opening above and below the recess, an annular tubular member normally in the recess and expansible by internal pressure to seal about an object extending through the opening, gatesections operable in the slots to positions where they extend across the opening to support and conne the said member, and means for passing uid pressureinto the member to expand it..

14. A device for use on a well casing including a body'adapted to be connected with the-casing and havingan opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, a recess in the wall of the opening and transverse slots intersectingA the opening above and below the recess, an annular tubular membernormally in the recess and expansible by internal pressure to seal about an object extending Athrough the opening, gate sec tions operable in the slots to positions where they extend across the opening to support and conne the said member, screw means for operating the gate sections, and means for passing iluid pressure into the member to expand it.

15. A devicefor use on a well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing and having an opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, closures operable to positions where they extend across the opening the inner ends of the closures adapted to engage an object extending through the opening to center the object in the opening, an expansible sealing member in the* body expansible to occupy the space defined by said closures to seal'about the object and the wall of the opening, and means for expanding the member.

16. A device for use on a well casing including a body adapted to be connected with the casing and having an opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, closures operable to positions Where they extend across the opening in planes spaced longitudinally thereof, there being notches in the inner ends lof the closures adapted to center an object extending through the opening, a member in the body expansible' to occupy the space dened by said closures to seal about theobpect and seal with the wall of the opening, and means for expanding the member.

1'7. In combination, a packer adapted for mounting between a string of pipe and a surrounding casing, means for radially distorting' the packer so as' to contact both the pipe and the casing, the radially distorted packer being subject to pressure tending to longitudinally distort the packer, an abutment for the end ofthe longitudinally distorted packer adapted for displacement for projection and retraction relative to the space between the pipe and the casing, and actuating means for displacing the abutment irrespective of force `exerted by distortion of the packer.

18. A device for use on a well casing including, a body to be connected with the casing and having an opening forming ai continuation of the opening in the casing, a member in the body expansible by iiuid pressure to seal between the body and an object extending through the body opening, and means in the body movable into the body opening in a plane at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the opening to support the member against pressure exerted longitudinally of the body opening.

19. A device for use on a well casing including,

`a body to be connected with the-casing and hav- 'Y a body adapted to be connected with the casing and having an opening forming a continuation of the opening in the casing, a packing member in the body operable inwardly and expansible by internal fluid pressure to seal with an object extending through the body opening, means for applying such internal pressure to the packing member, and means for supporting the packing member against axial pressures in the body opening,

Vthe last mentionedmeans including a part normally clear of the body opening and bodily movable inwardly in -a plane transverse of the body opening to a position where' it forms an abutment for an end of the packing member.

21. In combination, a body having an opening therethrough, a member in the-body operable in- A in planes spaced longitudinally thereof, faces on' wardly and expansible by internal uid pressures i to seal with an object extending through the opening, and means normally retracted in the body Iand slidably guided inwardly to support the member against pressures exerted vlongitudinally of the opening.

22, In combination, a body adapted to be.' mounted on well casing and having an opening therethrough communicating with the bore of the casing, meansassociated with the body and expansib1e.for sealing contact with an object extending through the opening, `means fordi recting fluid pressure against the expansible seallng means for expanding'the same, and means F. BAAsH. y 

